2.2.1. Cold War: USA vs Soviet Union

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following was NOT a feature of the Cold War?

  • Direct military confrontation between the US and USSR (correct)
  • Espionage activities
  • Proxy wars
  • Economic competition

What was the primary purpose of the Warsaw Pact?

  • To facilitate cultural exchange between the Soviet Union and its allies.
  • To establish a unified political system for Eastern Europe.
  • To provide a counterbalance to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). (correct)
  • To promote economic cooperation among Eastern Bloc nations.

Which of the following best describes the "Iron Curtain" as used by Winston Churchill?

  • A physical barrier separating Eastern and Western Europe.
  • An economic blockade imposed by the Soviet Union on Western Europe.
  • A military alliance formed by the Soviet Union and its allies.
  • A metaphorical division between communist and capitalist ideologies. (correct)

What major event symbolized the division and tensions of the Cold War?

<p>The construction of the Berlin Wall. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Cold War was a period of intense rivalry between the US and the USSR. Which of the following was NOT a major factor contributing to this rivalry?

<p>Shared economic interests and trade agreements. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term "Cold War" refer to?

<p>An ideological conflict between the US and the Soviet Union and their allies, without direct military confrontation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors fueled the Cold War?

<p>All of the above. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the Cold War on Europe?

<p>All of the above. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason the Cold War did not escalate into a full-scale military conflict?

<p>All of the above. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was distinctive of the political systems in the Eastern Bloc?

<p>They were highly centralized and controlled by one-party communist governments. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these countries was NOT a member of the Warsaw Pact?

<p>Finland (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following events marked the symbolic beginning of the "Space Race" between the US and the USSR?

<p>The launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

<p>To provide collective security for its member nations against communist expansion. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these countries is a member of both the Warsaw Pact and NATO?

<p>None of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Cold War described as "cold"?

<p>The war was fought through propaganda and espionage instead of direct military confrontation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a key characteristic of the Cold War?

<p>Direct military confrontations between the US and the Soviet Union (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main factor driving the division of Europe following World War II?

<p>The geopolitical rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements BEST describes the impact of the Cold War on Europe?

<p>It created a lasting division within Europe, shaping its political and economic landscape. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key concept associated with the Cold War?

<p>The rise of Fascism (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the term "Iron Curtain" symbolize during the Cold War?

<p>The ideological divide between capitalism and communism (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did NATO and the Warsaw Pact contribute to Cold War tensions?

<p>They reinforced the division between the two blocs, promoting military competition and mistrust. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the best definition of a "centrally planned economy"?

<p>An economic system where the government controls the means of production and production decisions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the US and the Soviet Union emerging as superpowers following World War II?

<p>It created a tense geopolitical rivalry between the two, shaping global politics for decades. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Cold War

A geopolitical rivalry between the US and USSR from post-WWII to the 1990s.

Iron Curtain

The term used to describe the division of Europe during the Cold War.

NATO

A military alliance formed by Western countries for collective defense against aggression.

Warsaw Pact

The Eastern Bloc's military alliance formed in response to NATO.

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Nuclear Arms Race

The competition between the US and USSR to develop and stockpile nuclear weapons.

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Pluralistic State

A state that recognizes multiple political parties and influences.

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Totalitarian State

A state where the government recognizes no limits to its authority.

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Planned Economy

An economy where production and distribution are controlled by the government.

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Capitalist Economy

An economic system based on private ownership and free market.

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Military Alliances in Europe

EU countries formed alliances for mutual defense during the Cold War.

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Geopolitical Tension

Strain in international relations due to political conflicts.

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Factors of Totalitarianism

Conditions like fear and propaganda that enable totalitarian regimes.

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Centrally Planned Economy

An economic system where the state controls the means of production and decisions about resources.

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Superpower

A nation with extensive military and economic strength capable of influencing global affairs.

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Expansion of Influence

Efforts by a nation to extend control over other regions economically, politically, or militarily.

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Study Notes

Cold War - USA and Soviet Union

  • The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the US and the Soviet Union after World War II
  • It was characterized by ideological conflict (capitalism vs communism)
  • The US sought to contain the spread of communism, while the Soviet Union aimed to spread its influence.
  • The two superpowers engaged in proxy wars and arms races, creating a climate of fear and distrust.

US and Soviet spheres of influence

  • Post-WWII, both the US and the Soviet Union exerted influence on European countries.

  • Countries aligned with the US (NATO) experienced economic and political developments

  • The Soviet Union (Warsaw Pact) controlled areas, also having economic and political developments.

  • The US & Soviet Union dominated geopolitics and economics

  • US promoted capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union promoted communism

  • This rivalry created tensions, proxy wars, and an arms race.

  • Political and economic instability and conflict were present in Europe during the Cold War.

Characteristics of the Cold War

  • Proxy wars: Conflicts where the superpowers supported opposing sides, but without engaging directly
  • Arms race: A competition between the superpowers to develop advanced weaponry, and to deter each other.
  • Propaganda: Both sides used propaganda to promote their ideology and criticize the other's.
  • Ideological conflict: The fundamental difference in political and economic systems between the two superpowers.
  • Espionage: Both sides engaged in covert operations to gather intelligence, and disrupt each other's activities.

Impact on Europe

  • The Cold War divided Europe into two opposing blocs: NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
  • The division influenced political and economic structures
  • The division caused physical and mental anxieties
  • This division created social, political, and economic divides in Europe.

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